1. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS

1.1 The co-chairs welcomed members. Apologies were received from members who could not attend.

2. MINUTES AND ACTIONS

2.1 A “task and finish” group will be commissioned to work on the action arising from developing communications between CPS, police and defence. The CLSA, LCCSA and Law Society have asked to be represented.

3. NDIP NEXT STEPS.

3.1 NDIP1 addressed current issues within a short timeframe. NDIP2 will take a long term view focussing on culture and improving purposes.

3.2 The extension of the three month pilot on the Disclosure management Document was confirmed.

3.3 The NDIP Disclosure Delivery Board had identified themes of communication, professionalism and technology as part of NDIP2.

3.4 There was discussion about whether the practices embodied by the Forum could be rolled out in Areas across the country as part of NDIP2. 3.5 The fact that the Communication Log on the Digital Caselines System cannot be edited by defence so is a prosecution document only was discussed. The Forum wanted consideration to be given to making the document available to the defence to edit as a means of encouraging communication. HMCTS own DCS and this will be taken forward with them.

3.6 The co-chairs informed the Forum that NDIP2 would be published in the autumn.

4. TRAINING

4.1 The NCA will be ready to have an external debrief with stakeholders on their training package once they have had an internal debrief.

4.2 The police training launched on 23 April 2018 had seen a high completion rate. Conferences had also taken place across the country.

4.3 The Forum was briefed on the CPS training which was being delivered face to face and led by Chief Crown Prosecutors. Prosecutors’ feedback indicated that they enjoyed this method of delivery more than online courses.

4.4 Police and CPS expect to have a joint conference later this year.

4.5 There needed to be more coordinated ways to share knowledge and training and the Forum agreed that there should be a series of webinars hosted by CPS and police.

5. AOB

5.1 The minutes of the NDIP National Disclosure Forum would be published as a means of sharing communication.

5.2 The impact on detection rates and timeliness of investigations of front-loading cases with disclosure was discussed.

5.3 There will be an extended meeting in early September, before the Disclosure Seminar which will be chaired by the Director of Public Prosecutions.